spoil
spoil
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling & Syllables
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) spelling for spoil is /spɔɪl/.
It is a single-syllable word. The sounds are:
/s/ - The voiceless "s" sound, as in "sun."
/p/ - The voiceless "p" sound, as in "pot."
/ɔɪ/ - The diphthong "oy" sound, as in "toy" or "boy."
/l/ - The "l" sound, as in "lamp."
Word Form Variations
Base: spoil
Present (Third-Person Singular): spoils
Past Tense: spoiled / spoilt (Note: spoilt is a common variant, especially in British English)
Present Participle / Gerund: spoiling
Past Participle: spoiled / spoilt
Adjective (from participle): spoiled / spoilt (e.g., "spoiled milk")
Adjective (negative): unspoiled / unspoilt
Noun (plural): spoils (referring to plunder or rewards)
Noun (agent): spoiler
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To diminish or ruin the value, pleasure, or quality of something.
Synonyms: ruin, wreck, mar, damage, impair, undermine
Antonyms: enhance, improve, perfect, save, fix
To treat someone (especially a child) with excessive indulgence, generosity, or leniency, often resulting in poor character or behavior.
Synonyms: pamper, coddle, overindulge, baby, mollycoddle
Antonyms: discipline, be strict (with), deprive, neglect
(Of food or other perishables) To become rotten, decayed, or unusable; to go bad.
Synonyms: rot, decay, perish, go off, curdle, decompose
Antonyms: preserve, keep, stay fresh
(Informal, used as spoiling for) To be extremely eager or desperate to engage in something, typically a fight or argument.
Synonyms: eager for, itching for, dying for, keen on
Antonyms: avoiding, dreading, shunning, dread
Noun
(Almost always used as spoils) Goods, money, or valuables stolen or taken by force, especially by a victorious army in war; plunder.
Synonyms: loot, booty, plunder, haul, pillage, winnings
Antonyms: restitution, belongings, reparations
(Almost always used as spoils) The advantages, profits, or positions of power gained by the winners of a contest, election, or struggle (often seen in the phrase "to the victor go the spoils").
Synonyms: rewards, perks, benefits, prizes, patronage
Antonyms: penalties, responsibilities, duties
Adjective
(As spoiled or spoilt) Describing food that is no longer fresh, edible, or usable.
Synonyms: rotten, bad, off, decayed, rancid, sour
Antonyms: fresh, edible, good, preserved
(As spoiled or spoilt) Describing a person whose behavior or character is difficult or selfish as a result of being overindulged.
Synonyms: pampered, overindulged, bratty, coddled
Antonyms: well-behaved, disciplined, humble, appreciative
Examples of Use
In Books and Literature
As "to pamper": "He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length. ... Spare the rod, and spoil the child." (Proverbs, King James Bible)
As "to ruin" (spoiler): Modern book reviews, especially for mystery or thriller novels, often begin with a "SPOILER ALERT" warning if the review intends to discuss critical plot points.
In Newspapers and Journalism
As "plunder" or "rewards" (spoils): Political commentary frequently references the "spoils system," a practice where a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its supporters as a reward. (The New York Times)
As "to ruin" or "mar": A weather report might state, "Heavy rains are expected this weekend, threatening to spoil the plans for the annual outdoor music festival." (The Guardian)
In Online Publications (Magazines, Blogs)
As "to decay" (food): A culinary website or food waste blog might advise, "Store your mushrooms in a paper bag, not plastic; excess moisture will cause them to spoil much faster." (Bon Appétit)
As "to pamper": A travel magazine's headline might read, "Spoil yourself with our guide to the 10 most luxurious spa retreats in Bali." (Condé Nast Traveler)
In Entertainment Mediums (Film, TV, Video Games)
As "a spoiled person" (film): In the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, the character Veruca Salt is the quintessential spoiled child, whose father admits, "I spoil her, I know, but I can't help it."
As "to ruin a plot" (television): In the TV series Friends, the character Joey Tribbiani famously becomes upset after Rachel spoils the ending of the novel The Shining for him.
As "plunder" (video games): In role-playing games like Diablo or World of Warcraft, players defeat a major boss and are rewarded with the "spoils of war," which typically include gold, armor, and weapons.
On Platforms (Social Media, Forums)
As "a plot reveal" (Reddit/Discord): On discussion forums, users are required to hide plot details using a spoiler tag (which grays out the text) so that others who haven't seen the movie or show can browse without having it spoiled.
As "to pamper" (Instagram): A user might post a photo of their dog sleeping on a large, soft bed with the caption, "Someone is absolutely spoiled rotten."
As "to ruin" (X/Twitter): "Just finished the season finale. I won't post any spoilers, but that ending was unbelievable."
In General Public Discourse (Everyday Conversation)
As "to decay": "You need to drink that milk in the next day or two, or it's going to spoil."
As "to ruin": "Let's not talk about work at dinner; I don't want to spoil the mood."
As "to be eager for a conflict": "He kept staring at everyone in the bar. You could tell he was spoiling for a fight."
As "to overindulge": "It's my birthday, so I'm going to spoil myself and order the expensive dessert."
10 Famous Quotes Using Spoil
"To the victor belong the spoils." (Attributed to William L. Marcy)
"Golf is a good walk spoiled." (Often attributed to Mark Twain)
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not." (Epicurus)
"Love is a boy by poets styled; then spare the rod and spoil the child." (Samuel Butler, Hudibras)
"Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish—too much handling will spoil it." (Lao Tzu)
"Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in." (Leonardo da Vinci)
"You can't let one bad moment spoil a bunch of good ones." (Dale Earnhardt)
"All charming people, I fancy, are spoiled. It is the secret of their attraction." (Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray)
"Nothing spoils a good story like the arrival of an eyewitness." (Mark Twain)
"You can't get spoiled if you do your own ironing." (Meryl Streep)
Etymology
The Original Meaning: Plunder
The word spoil comes to us from the Latin word spoliāre, which meant "to strip, to rob, or to plunder."
This Latin word was related to spolium, which literally meant "the skin or hide stripped from an animal." This idea was quickly applied to warfare. When Roman soldiers conquered an enemy, the armor, weapons, and valuables they stripped from the defeated foe were called spolia (the plural form), or "the spoils."
When "spoil" first appeared in English (through French) in the late 1200s, it kept this exact violent meaning. To spoil a town meant to plunder it, to rob it of all its valuables, and to leave it ruined.
This original meaning is still perfectly preserved in the noun form spoils, as in "to the victor go the spoils."
How the Meaning Changed: From "Plunder" to "Rotten Milk"
So, how did we get from "plundering a city" to "milk spoiling in the fridge"? The connection is the idea of ruin.
The Core Shift: If you plunder a city, you ruin it. This idea of "to ruin" or "to destroy the value of" became the word's main job.
Ruining a Person: By the 1600s, people began using the word metaphorically. If you "ruin" a child's character or discipline by giving them everything they want, you spoil them.
Ruining Food: A little later, in the late 1600s, the same logic was applied to food. When food "goes to ruin" or its value is "destroyed," it spoils.
Ruining an Experience: This is the most modern use. A "spoiler" (a noun we created from the verb) is a piece of information that "ruins" the surprise and pleasure of a story.
In short, "spoil" started as a word for violently ruining an enemy by taking their stuff, and it slowly softened over time to mean ruining just about anything: a child's behavior, a gallon of milk, or the end of a movie.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Spoil
To be spoiling for a fight (to be very eager to argue or fight)
To the victor go the spoils (the winner gets all the rewards)
Spoiled rotten (describes someone, especially a child, who is overindulged)
Spare the rod, spoil the child (a proverb suggesting that failing to discipline children makes them misbehave)
Too many cooks spoil the broth (too many people working on something can ruin it)
Spoiler alert (a warning that a plot detail is about to be revealed)
Spoils of war (goods and property seized from an enemy in wartime)
To spoil the mood / fun (to ruin a pleasant atmosphere or event)
To spoil someone silly (to pamper or be extremely generous to someone)
To spoil a ballot (to mark a voting paper incorrectly, making it invalid)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of spoil from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
